Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 LIVE: Result and reaction as Usyk wins thrilling fight by split decision
Follow the reaction as Usyk beats AJ in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia before some bizarre post-fight shenanigans
Oleksandr Usyk retained his world heavyweight titles with a split decision win over Anthony Joshua on Saturday in a rematch in Saudi Arabia that was closer than last year’s first fight.
Both fighters held up the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag as the judges’ scores were read out at King Abdullah Sport City arena. When he was declared the winner, Usyk hid his face behind the flag. The 35-year-old Usyk kept his WBA, WBO and IBF belts six months after serving in the Ukrainian army as part of the country’s defence against Russia’s invasion.
Joshua was much improved but Usyk demonstrated his technical brilliance to triumph 115-113, 116-112, 113-115 on the scorecards. After the fight, Joshua stormed out of the ring before returning and giving a bizarre speech to the crowd.
Follow reaction from Joshua’s defeat below:
Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua in heavyweight title rematch with split decision victory
Tyson Fury says he would ‘annihilate’ Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in one night after Ukrainian’s win 
Anthony Joshua ‘left out to dry by his team’ during post-fight outburst, says Frazer Clarke
Anthony Joshua left broken and crushed by brave defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk vs Joshua 2
Jack vs Rivera – Round 6
Rivera is getting frustrated with Jack’s aggression in the clinch, and he argues with the referee briefly after a break.
Nothing egregious from Jack, though, as far as we can see.
A better round from him, in fact.
Usyk vs Joshua 2
Jack vs Rivera – Round 5
Jack’s forward pressure isn’t counting for much, as he’s not supplementing it with much punching output.
Rivera, in contrast, is throwing regularly. Jack, however, blocks a one two and times a right cross very well!
The pair clinch, and Jack targets his opponent’s body with hooks, while Rivera opts for uppercuts to the head.
Usyk vs Joshua 2
Jack vs Rivera – Round 4
Jack’s corner calls for “six to eight small shots, not one or two big shots”.
He comes forward but is soon backed up, with Rivera sneaking some hooks around the guard of Jack.
Ironically, Rivera is implementing the kind of approach that Jack’s corner called for – and it’s proving fairly effective.
Usyk vs Joshua 2
Jack vs Rivera – Round 3
Jack stalks Rivera around the ring and sticks behind the jab.
Rivera lunges forward to close the distance, then gets off a couple of decent right uppercuts. He then pours on a barrage of hooks, but they’re blocked.
Again Jack pressures Rivera, who keeps the veteran at bay with a wide left hook effort.
Rivera finds success again with some uppercuts, then a powerful right hook off the break. The tide seems to be turning in his favour.
Usyk vs Joshua 2
Jack vs Rivera – Round 3
Jack stalks Rivera around the ring and sticks behind the jab.
Rivera lunges forward to close the distance, then gets off a couple of decent right uppercuts. He then pours on a barrage of hooks, but they’re blocked.
Again Jack pressures Rivera, who keeps the veteran at bay with a wide left hook effort.
Rivera finds success again with some uppercuts, then a powerful right hook off the break. The tide seems to be turning in his favour.
Usyk vs Joshua 2
Jack vs Rivera – Round 2
Sharp jab from Jack. Rivera misses with an overzealous entry, Jack rolling under the right hand and cracking Rivera with one of his own!
That’s the best shot of the fight so far. Rivera gets behind the jab now, but Jack catches him out with a left jab into a left hook – nicely done. Now a right cross stings Rivera!
Rivera is able to find an opening at last with some right uppercuts. Now a grazing overhand right lands for him!
Jack clinches and burrows some right hooks into the body of his opponent. They separate, and Rivera springs into a couple of left hooks, the change in angle surprising Jack.
Usyk vs Joshua 2
Jack vs Rivera – Round 1
Rivera comes forward with a flurry early on. Jack backs him up, and Rivera tries to retaliate with a wild overhand right, but it misses. Jack applies gentle pressure with some jabs and forward movement. Rivera clinches briefly. The pair separate, and Rivera lunges in with a left hook that misses. Jack hooks to the body. He’s largely held back his right hand, however.
Usyk vs Joshua 2
Next up, 38-year-old veteran Badou Jack faces the unbeaten Richard Rivera in a cruiserweight contest.
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